Film magazine with drive capstan

ABSTRACT

A film magazine or cassette for cameras, projectors, recorders, or the like. The magazine includes a film supply reel and a film take-up reel disposed within an enveloping wall structure for rotation about generally parallel axes to carry convoluted film. A capstan assembly, including a roller or hub, is rotatably mounted on the wall structure and engages the film for transferring the film from the supply reel to the take-up reel. The capstan is operatively connected to the take-up reel by a friction belt. A roller-type overrunning clutch forms an integral part of the capstan and is adapted to receive a round shaft from an appropriate photographic apparatus, projector, recorder, or the like, to permit the shaft to over-run the capstan and thereby maintain tension in the film between the supply reel and the capstan.

United States Patent. 1191 Porazinski in] 3,779,484 1451 Dec. 13,1973

[ FILM MAGAZINE WITH DRIVE CAPSTAN [75] Inventor: Robert F. Porazinski,Norridge, Ill. [73] Assignee: Bell & Howell Co., Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 22, 197i 211 App]. No.: 201,041

[52] US. Cl 242/199, 242/206, 242/209,

. 352/78 [5 l Ink-Cl. G03b- 23/04 [58] Field of Search... 242/l99, 200,198,

242/l97, 54.l, 194, 201, 202, 206, 209, 2lO; 352/72, 78; l79/l00.2 Z;274/4 C, 4 D, 4 E, ll D, ll C; ZZZ/49.51

[56] I References Cited fUNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,348,786 JO/I967 Milleret-aL, 242/200 X 3,197,151 7/1965 Sparks et al. 242/198 2,6|2,565 9/!952Heller 242/198 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Attorney.l. RobertStapleton [57] ABSTRACT A film magazine or cassette for cameras,projectors, recorders, or the like. The magazine includes a film supplyreel and a film take-up reel disposed within an enveloping wallstructure for rotation about generally parallel axes to carry convolutedfilm. A capstan assembly, including a roller or hub, is rotatablymounted on the wall structure and engages the film for transferring'thefilm from the supply reel to the take-up reel. The capstan isoperatively connected to the take-up reel by a friction belt. Aroller-type overrunning clutch forms an integral part of the capstan andis adapted to receive a round shaft from an appropriate photographicapparatus, projector,-recorder, or the like, to permit the shaft toover-run the capstan and thereby maintain tension in the film betweenthe supply reel and the capstan.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FILM MAGAZINE WITH DRIVE CAPS'IAN SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates to film or tape appara-' tusand in particular to a cassette or magazine for a camera, projector,recorder, or the like, the magazine containing the film or tape andhaving a driving capstan engageable with the film in the magazine todraw the film past a lens, sound head, or the like.

Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements infilm ortape magazines or cassettes of the type wherein two reels, a supply reeland a take-up reel, are rotatably mounted in an enveloping wallstructure or housing, the reels carrying convoluted film and themagazine or cassette-including a capstan for transferring the convolutedfilm from the supply reel to the take-up reel in response to rotation ofthe capstan and the take-up reel.

With apparatus of the character described, there have been difficultiesin maintaining proper tension on the film not only between 'thetake-upreel and the cap- Other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS in its driving condition, between the driveshaft and stan, but also between the capstan and the supply reel. 1

The tension varies as the film is transferredduetothe changes indiameter of the convoluted film as it is wound onto or off of therespective reels. This invention is directed to a new and improvedstructure designed to maintain proper tensions on the film between thecapstan and the take-up and supply reels.

The principal object, therefore, is to provide a new and improved filmor tape magazine or cassette for cameras, projectors, recorders, or alike apparatus.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention,'the supply reel and thetake-up reel aredisposed on or in an enveloping wall structure forrotation about generally parallel axes for carrying convoluted film. Afilm drive capstan assembly, including a hub or roller, is rotatablymounted on the wall structure for engaging the capstan hub; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but with the clutch in anoverrunning condition.

DETAILED: DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings ingreater detail, the film or tape magazine or cassette of the presentinvention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 generally by the numeral 10. Themagazine includes an enveloping wall structure or housing 12 having anupper lid portion l4-providing access to the interior of the housing. Afilm supply reel or spool 16 and a film take-up reel or spool 18 aredisposed within the housing 12 for rotation about generally parallelaxes defined by shaft means 160 and 180, respectively, for carryingconvoluted film F. A film drive capstan assembly, generally designated20, and

film in the magazine to draw it past a lens, sound head,

reel and the capstan. An overrunning clutch is operatively associatedwith 'the capstan and is adapted to receive a. shaft from an appropriatephotographic apparatus, projector, recorder, or the like, to permit theshaft to overrun the capstan and thereby maintain tension in the filmbetween the supply reel and the capstan.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the overrunning clutch isan integral part of the film drive capstan assembly and includes aplurality of axially'extending roller members spring biased into awedging condition between an inner surface of the capstan'hub or rollerand the outer surface of a round shaft during the driving condition ofthe clutch. The clutch overruns when the tension in the film exceedstheforce of the spring means. Such a structure eliminates'the needforsplined, flattened or keyed drive shafts. The drive shaft need only beof a diameter compatible with the clutch diameter selected. By sopermitting the utilization of a simple round drive shaft, multiple filmmagazines may including a capstan roller or hub 22 (FIG. 2), isrotatably mounted within the housing 12 by means of a hold-down arm 24for rotation about an axis defined by a drive shaft 26 which extendsthrough the magazine 10 generally parallel to the axes of rotation ofthe take-up and supply reels 18 and 16, respectively. The film F iswrapped around the capstan hub 22 and engages a friction surface in theform of a belt 27 about the capstan hub.

Drive means in the form of a friction belt 28 operatively connects thetake-up reel 18 and the capstan hub 22 by means of a pulley member 30 onthe takerup reel 18 and a pulley portion'22a on the capstan hub 22.Thus, rotation 'of the capstan hub '22, through the friction belt 28,drives the take-up spool 18in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 1) so thata supply of convoluted film on the supply reel is transferred to thetake-up reel, the supplyreel rotating in the direction of arrow B (FIG.1). The pulley portion 22aof the capstan hub 22 is slightly larger indiameter than the diameter of the pulconvoluted film on the take-up reelincreases).

An overrunning clutch means, generally designated 32 in FIGS. 3 and 4,is provided as an integral part of the film drive capstan assembly 20.The overrunning clutch means is shown somewhat schematically in FIGS. 3and 4 and includes a plurality of roller memb'ers 420 which are biasedby springs 32b into a wedging .condition between. the capstan hub 22 andthe outer shaft 26, but permits the shaft to overrun the capstan andthereby maintaintension in the film F between the supply reel and thecapstan assembly 20. More particu larly, referring to FIG. 3, as thedrive shaft 26 rotates in the direction of arrow C, due to the wedgingaction of the rollers 32 against the outer surface of the shaft 26 andinner surface portions 34 of the capstan hub 22, the capstan hub will bedriven in the same direction, as indicated by the arrow D (FIG. 3).However, should tension in the film between the film supply reel 16 andthe capstan assembly 20 exceed the biasing force of springs 32b, theshaft overruns the capstan hub or, vice versa, the capstan hub overrunsthe shaft in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 4) to thereby maintaintension in i the film between the supplyreel and the capstan withoutdamaging the magazine apparatus. 4

With the magazine structure described above, it will be understood thatthe need for splined, flattened or keyed drive shafts is eliminated.Having the overrunningclutch and capstan hub an integral part of thecapstan assembly as well as the film magazine assembly itself, the driveshaft 26 need only be of a diameter compatible with the roller typeoverrunning clutch 32. By using the simple round drive shaft, multiplefilm-magazines may be driven from one common shaft, as is seen in FIG.2. The housing for each magazine may have an individual opening 40, orother similar means, for exposing the film to appropriatelens'structures 42 (FIG. 1 sound heads, recorder heads, or other similarapparatus.

axes for carrying convoluted film, a film drive capstan hub rotatablymounted on said wall structure, drive 'means operatively connecting'saidtake-up reel and said capstanso that a supply of convoluted film on saidsupply reel is transferred to said take-up reel in response to rotationof the capstan and the take-up reel, and meansdefining an overrunningclutch operatively associated with said capstan and adapted to receive ashaft from an appropriate photographic apparatus, projector, recorder,or the like, in driving engagement therewith, said overrunning clutchincluding at least one member for effecting driving engagement betweensaid shaft and said capstan responsive to rotation of said shaft in apreselected direction, said at least one member being spring biased by apredetermined force into its driving condition during rotation of saidshaft in said preselected direction only when the tension in the filmbetween the capstan and the supply reel does not exceed thepredetermined spring bias force whereby the shaft is permitted tooverrun the capstan and thereby maintain tension in the film between thesupply reel and the capstan.

2. The film magazine of claim 1 wherein said drive means operativelyconnecting the take-up reel and the capstan includes a friction beltmeans capable of slipping to prevent undue tension on the film betweenthe take-up reel and the capstan.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

I claim:

1. A film or tape magazine for a camera, projector, recorder, or thelike, comprising an enveloping wall structure, a supply reel and atake-up reel disposed on said wall structure for rotation aboutgenerally parallel 3. The film magazine of claim 1 wherein saidoverrunning clutch means is adapted to receive a round shaft.

4. The film magazine of claim 3 wherein said at least one membercomprises a plurality of axially extending roller members spring biasedinto a wedging condition between the capstan and the outer surface ofsaid shaft during the driving condition of the clutch.

5. The film magazine of claim 1 wherein said overrunning clutch means isan integral part of a film drive capstan assembly which includes saidfilm drive capstan hub.

1. A film or tape magazine for a camera, projector, recorder, or thelike, comprising an enveloping wall structure, a supply reel and atake-up reel disposed on said wall structure for rotation aboutgenerally parallel axes for carrying convoluted film, a film drivecapstan hub rotatably mounted on said wall structure, drive meansoperatively connecting said take-up reel and said capstan so that asupply of convoluted film on said supply reel is transferred to saidtake-up reel in response to rotation of the capstan and the take-upreel, and means defining an overrunning clutch operatively associatedwith said capstan and adapted to receive a shaft from an appropriatephotographic apparatus, projector, recorder, or the like, in drivingengagement therewith, said overrunning clutch including at least onemember for effecting driving engagement between said shaft and saidcapstan responsive to rotation of said shaft in a preselected direction,said at least one member being spring biased by a predetermined forceinto its driving condition during rotation of said shaft in saidpreselected direction only when the tension in the film between thecapstan and the supply reel does not exceed the predetermined springbias force whereby the shaft is permitted to overrun the capstan andthereby maintain tension in the film between the supply reel and thecapstan.
 2. The film magazine of claim 1 wherein said drive meansoperatively connecting the take-up reel and the capstan includes afriction belt means capable of slipping to prevent undue tension on thefilm between the take-up reel and the capstan.
 3. The film magazine ofclaim 1 wherein said overrunning clutch means is adapted to receive around shaft.
 4. The film magazine of claim 3 wherein said at least onemember comprises a plurality of axially extending roller members springbiased into a wedging condition between the capstan and the outersurface of said shaft during the drivIng condition of the clutch.
 5. Thefilm magazine of claim 1 wherein said overrunning clutch means is anintegral part of a film drive capstan assembly which includes said filmdrive capstan hub.